I've just finished creating my entries for the NZ Art Show. I thought I'd give them something different this year. Firstly I've carved a fin in the style of a dolphin fin out of NZ pounamu/greenstone (jade) with a beech base. It has amazing grain in it, and looks stunning in natural light, and even more so with a spot light shining through it. Secondly, there's a stunning red beech burr bowl, beautifully shaped, which had a hole in it, which I've filled with another piece of greenstone from the same block. Again, it looks especially great with a light shining through it. Finally I did a matau/fish hook and carved an eye through which I looped a platted flax cord. I carved a notch around a piece of greenstone like Maori did in the old days to create a sinker and tied that on to the other end of the cord. I think the hook is pohutukawa. Very hard to work, but has amazing grain. So they will be down at the NZ Art Show in Wellington (TSB Stadium on the waterfront) which runs from the 30th July-1st August (opening night on the 29th).
